Three hundred ninety-six days after a controversial separation agreement ended Walter Milton’s tenure as head of the Springfield School District, Jennifer Gill started her first day as his successor Thursday.

It was a moment many people in District 186 have been waiting a long time for.

“The stability of having someone in here on a more permanent basis is going to be great,” said Karen Stapleton-Crump, principal at Jefferson Middle School. “I don’t think, I know, that is what our district needs.”

Gill, 44, toured three schools Thursday morning — Dubois, Jefferson and Matheny-Withrow — and met with district administrators in the afternoon to discuss curriculum.

Gill, a former District 186 principal, was hired in January to a three-year contract that pays her an annual salary of $195,000.

In many ways, Thursday was a homecoming for Gill — who never really left Springfield despite taking a job as director of teaching and learning at McLean County Unit 5 School District in Normal in 2012.

She maintained her home in Springfield and has two children in District 186.

Students there surprised the new superintendent by gathering outside in front of the building around a sign reading, “Welcome Back.” She also was given flowers.

Cindy Baugher, Dubois principal, said the students were thrilled Gill stopped by.

“They kept asking me when she would get here,” Baugher said.

Once inside, Gill visited each of the classrooms and even ran into fourth-grade teacher Gale Rectenwal, her mentor as a student-teacher in the 1990-91 school year.

“I learned a lot from her,” Gill said.

At Jefferson Middle School, 3001 Allis St., Gill had a reunion with one of her old students when she was a principal at McClernand Elementary School, 801 N. Sixth St.

Deacon Baumann, a sixth-grader at Jefferson, said he remembered Gill as being “nice” when he was at McClernand. Gill had similar sentiments about her former student.

“He was a good guy,” she said.

Over the next few days, Gill said, she planned to meet with principals, staff and attend events in the community. Bob Hill, who served as interim superintendent before Gill’s arrival, will stay on board for a brief stretch to ease the transition, she said.

Overall, Gill said, Thursday was a day she had looked forward to for months and brought back lots of memories. She’s now ready to “hit the ground running” and plan for the district’s future, she said.

“That’s what makes it so special to be back in the community where I was raised, went to school and served many roles within the system,” Gill said after touring Dubois and Jefferson. “The gift I’ve been given to lead this system is a really proud moment for me.”